The following question was asked by Klara Wilkins

Question:

What training have Councillors on the Housing and Community Scrutiny Panel received in relation to homelessness legislation? In particular, the Homelessness Code of Guidance.

Response: I have checked and I understand that Housing and Community Scrutiny Panel have not had training in relation to homelessness legislation including the Homelessness Code of Guidance. 

Scrutiny panels work at a strategic level within the Council and are not expected to have detailed operational knowledge across every area of their responsibility. Briefings on detailed operational subjects are given as necessary or at the request of the Scrutiny Chair. 

There is no legislation that mandates training for Councillors. Scrutiny panels are not decision-making bodies but rather provide scrutiny of officer's work. 

All members of scrutiny panels are offered an induction before they sit on the panel to ensure they understand the function, their purpose and how to prepare and ask relevant questions.  

Whilst Cabinet cannot require Scrutiny to do anything, I will write to the Chair of the Housing and Community Panel to ask whether there are any areas of training required. 

The following question was asked by Mathew Surtees

Question:

Councillor Evans, do you agree that the Labour Government’s cuts to welfare will significantly impact the people of Plymouth and are you prepared to publicly condemn the actions of government in relation to these cuts, in the same way that labour councillors have done in other parts of the country?

Response: The government has published a green paper; this is not a decision but the commencement of a consultation that runs until the end of June.

In fact, the government held a public consultation event on the green paper in Plymouth on 13th May.

I would encourage anyone with an opinion to respond to the current consultation. 

The government is currently demonstrating that it is carefully considering feedback, including that from Labour Party members and Councillors. The government is being responsible in asking people to engage with them in making submissions to inform decision-making and I am sure that all representations will be carefully considered.

I would suggest that you should also act responsibly by correctly reporting the facts rather than sharing misinformation.